Changing name and applying for Amex

[AndySoCal]

Are you changing your address as well?

[bichonmom]

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@Walt_K wrote:

How does it work, what is the timeline?  After the court date, you get some order that you then are able to send in to SSA and other places, DMV, etc. to get new SS card and license?  In other words, the other changes don't happen automatically with the court order correct?

I'd just call Amex and ask them.  Tell them you recently changed your name but haven't sent in paperwork to SSA yet, and your CR still has your old last name; which name should you use on application. 

If you use whatever name is on your credit report at time of application, I highly doubt this will matter. 

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+1 Though, with Amex being so fussy, and the fact that you will need to notify them of your name change right after you get approved/receive the card, you  might be better off waiting. They seem to be doing a lot of FRs from what I've read here, and notifying them of a name change (especially since it's not marriage-related), might just be fodder for them to FR you. I'd probably wait until Jan/Feb and all of your info has been updated. Even then, your CR will show your current (soon-to-be-former) last name as an AKA.

[doublespaces]

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@Walt_K wrote:

How does it work, what is the timeline?  After the court date, you get some order that you then are able to send in to SSA and other places, DMV, etc. to get new SS card and license?  In other words, the other changes don't happen automatically with the court order correct?

I'd just call Amex and ask them.  Tell them you recently changed your name but haven't sent in paperwork to SSA yet, and your CR still has your old last name; which name should you use on application. 

If you use whatever name is on your credit report at time of application, I highly doubt this will matter. 

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Yeah, its done 'legally' in court. They order birth certificate and other things to be changed. I assume they give me some signed paper that my name has been legally changed and I use that to change my liscence, social and passport. Then when I start applying for things with this new name then they start appearing on my credit report with my previous name shown under other names or aka. I think I'll just apply with my current name as I'm going into court today.

[doublespaces]

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@AndySoCal wrote:

Are you changing your address as well?

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I just bought a house so my address is changing also and may already be showing up on my credit reports soon.

[Anonymous]

(first + last, last + first, middle + last, first + middle + last, first + MI + last).  now im confused

[Anonymous]

I would get everything updated FIRST and THEN apply.

Why?

Because even if the reason for a name change is perfectly legitimate, a name change right after getting approved for a new card just looks suspicious to the card companies and it could potentially cause you trouble down the road up to and including sending in copies of your legal name change and/or any other documention that shows the legal process that was involved which can take some time for them to process.

[haulingthescoreup]

This is slightly different from your situation, but I changed my name after already being a member with AmEx, and they didn't even blink. Unlike some of the other lenders, I didn't have to fax evidence of my new name (new DL, etc.) They just issued new cards and off I went.

Women change names all the time. IMO, there's no particular reason to expect most businesses to weird out on you.

PenFed, alas, requires a copy of the court decree ordering the name change, which is why my PF cards still have my old name, 22 months later. (Too busy/ distracted/ irritated to go through the whole fax rigamarole. I'll do it soon, really I will.

[AndySoCal]

I would let your creditors know the name and address change as soon as possible. When you apply I would use a current and previous address just to be on the safe side.